Johnson, Cummins back in Australia ODI squad

Melbourne, May 10: Australia have recalled pacemen Mitchell Johnson and Pat Cummins for the five-match ODI series against England and one game against Ireland during their tour of the United Kingdom.

Both Johnson and Cummins have not played cricket for nearly six months. The 30-year-old Johnson had a surgery on his foot while Cummins has recovered from a heel injury.

Steve Smith, who is enjoying a good run with the bat playing for Pune Warriors in IPL 5, is also rewarded with a berth in the squad.

Commenting on the ODI squad, National Selector John Inverarity said: “We will have to be at the top of our game to go to England and beat them on their home soil but we’ve selected a strong squad and believe we have the ability to win this one-day series.”

He continued: “Steve Smith has been rewarded for his late season form. He has come into strong contention for the Australian ICC World Twenty20 squad to be named in August and the NSP is keen to have him in the set-up in England as the reserve batsman, noting that his leg-spinners would provide good variation to our attack.

He said that Johnson is in contention for the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka in September.

“Mitchell Johnson has also been included in this ODI squad. He, also, is in strong contention for the ICC World Twenty20 and needs to be in the set-up and have some quality competitive cricket leading into this. The NSP is looking forward to Mitchell being reinvigorated after being out of the game for six months.

“We are also excited about the return of Pat Cummins and we are looking to ease him back into the team. He will not be expected to play in all of the eight scheduled games.”

“Peter Forrest, Mitchell Starc, Dan Christian, Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill have not been included in this squad. During the Australian summer and in the West Indies, Peter Forrest and Mitchell Starc were two young players who grasped their opportunities and acquitted themselves well and enhanced their reputations. However, they have made way in this squad for Steve Smith and Pat Cummins,” he added.